Plate for placement of cooked and frozen shrimp

ABSTRACT

A plate for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps includes a base plate portion and a riser portion. The base plate portion has top and bottom sides, a plurality of spaced apart elongate projections which extend downward from the bottom side, elongate drain grooves which extend respectively in the projections and which open at the top side and close at the bottom side, and a receiving space above the top side and communicated with the drain grooves. The riser portion extends laterally and upwardly from the base plate portion and loops around the receiving space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a plate for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps, more particularly to a plate for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps which can reduce storage and transport costs, and which can facilitate use.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Cooked and frozen peeled shrimps arranged neatly on plates or platters are now available at frozen food stores and supermarkets to make preparation of meals more convenient. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional plate 1 for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps. As shown, the plate 1 includes a round base plate portion 11 having an annular raised wall 12 and a convex portion 13. The raised wall 12 and the convex portion 13 confine an annular receiving space 14 therebetween. A plurality of drain holes 15 are formed in the receiving space 14. Cooked peeled shrimps 16 are placed side by side on the plate 1 along radial directions such that each shrimp 16 is laid on the convex portion 13 along the curvature surface thereof in a substantial vertical position, with one end thereof extending into the receiving space 14. A cover 10 is placed on top of the shrimps 16 for protection. The shrimps 16 are then frozen and transported to food stores for sale. To serve the shrimps 16, the consumer only needs to thaw the shrimps 16. The water resulting from thawing of the shrimps 16 is discharged through the drain holes 15.

[0005] Two major drawbacks associated with the conventional plate 1 are as follows:

[0006] 1. High storage and transport costs: Since the shrimps 16 are laid radially on the convex portion 13 of the base plate portion 11, the number of shrimps 16 that can be arranged on the plate 1 is limited. Furthermore, due to the round shape of the plate 1, when a plurality of plates 1 are stored in a freezer, relatively large gaps are present between adjacent plates 1. Besides, the configuration of the convex portion 13 and the placement of the shrimps 16 on the convex portion 13 make the overall profile of the plate 1 relatively high. As such, the number of plates 1 that can be stacked in the freezer is also limited.

[0007] 2. Inconvenient to use: Due to the arrangement of the drain holes 15, when the plate 1 of thawed shrimps 16 is served, icy water resulting from thawing may drip through the drain holes 15 to contaminate the environment or other dishes. Besides, as the raised wall 12 is very close to the shrimps 16 on the convex portion 13, water may condense on the distal side of the raised wall 12, which is not hygienic.

[0008] Referring to FIG. 3, a conventional plate 2 for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps 26 is shown to include a round base plate portion 21 having an annular raised wall 22 and a convex portion 23, the raised wall 22 and the convex portion 23 confining an annular receiving space 24 therebetween. The plate 2 is different from the plate 1 in that the base plate portion 21 thereof is not formed with any drain holes. As such, icy water 20 resulting from thawing of the shrimps 26 is retained in the space surrounded by the convex portion 23 and in the receiving space 24. Although dripping of the icy water 20 is prevented, head and tail ends of the shrimps 26 laid on the convex portion 23 are dipped in the icy water 20, which may affect the taste of the shrimps 26. Hence, it is necessary to tilt the plate 2 to one side to pour out the icy water 20 on the plate 2 from time to time, which is very inconvenient. Besides, due to the round shape of the plate 2 and the arrangement of the convex portion 23, storage and transport costs remain high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a plate for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps which can reduce storage and transport costs, and which is convenient to use.

[0010] Accordingly, a plate for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps of the present invention includes a base plate portion and a riser portion. The base plate portion has top and bottom sides, a plurality of spaced apart elongate projections extending downward from the bottom side, elongate drain grooves which extend respectively in the projections and which open at the top side and close at the bottom side, and a receiving space above the top side and communicated with the drain grooves. The riser portion extends laterally and upwardly from the base plate portion and loops around the receiving space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a top schematic view of a conventional plate for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional plate taken along line II-II of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another conventional plate for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a top schematic view of the preferred embodiment of a plate for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps according to the invention; and

[0016]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along line V-V of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the preferred embodiment of a plate 30 for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps 36 according to the present invention is shown to include a base plate portion 31 and a riser portion 32. The base plate portion 31 has top and bottom sides, a plurality of spaced apart elongate projections 33 extending downward from the bottom side, elongate drain grooves 331 which extend respectively in the projections 33 and which open at the top side and close at the bottom side, and a receiving space 310 above the top side and communicated with the drain grooves 331. In this embodiment, the base plate portion 31 is substantially rectangular.

[0018] The riser portion 32 extends laterally and upwardly from the base plate portion 31 and loops around the receiving space 310. The riser portion 32 includes an upstanding inner wall part 321 having a bottom end connected to the base plate portion 31 and a top end, an upstanding outer wall part 323 extending around the inner wall part 321 in a spaced apart relationship, and a top wall 322 extending at the top end of the inner wall part 321 and interconnecting the inner and outer wall parts 321, 323. The inner and outer wall parts 321, 323 confine therebetween an air space. Besides, the outer wall part 323 has a bottom end extending to a level lower than the projections 33.

[0019] In addition, the plate 3 may include a cover 34 mountable on the riser portion 32 to close the receiving space 310 so as to protect the shrimps 36 during storage and transport thereof.

[0020] In use, cooked peeled shrimps 36 are placed side by side on the base plate portion 31 in the receiving space 310, and the plate 3 together with the shrimps 36 is stowed in a freezer for delivery to food stores. To serve, the consumer only needs to thaw the shrimps 36. Icy water 30 resulting from thawing will flow downwardly to be collected in the drain grooves 331. As such, the problem of water dripping and the problem of the shrimps 36 having both ends dipped in the icy water 30 can be overcome.

[0021] Hence, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0022] 1. Reduced storage and transport costs: In the present invention, since the shrimps 36 are huddled in rows in the receiving space 310 of the base plate portion 31 in a substantially flat manner, the overall profile of the plate 30 is low even after placement of the cover 34. Besides, as the plate 3 is rectangular, gaps are not present between adjacent plates 3 when placed inside a freezer, and the number of shrimps 36 to be laid on the plate 3 can be increased. As such, the amount of shrimps 36 to be stored in the freezer can be augmented considerably.

[0023] 2. Convenient to use: Due to the arrangement of the drain grooves 331 that only open at the top side of the base plate portion 31, icy water resulting from thawing of the shrimps 36 is collected in the drain grooves 331, and will not drip or come into contact with the shrimps 36. Besides, the air space formed between the inner and outer wall parts 321, 323 provides a good heat insulating effect to prevent formation of water drops on the outer wall part 323 of the riser portion 32 so as to ensure hygiene.

[0024] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

I claim:
 1. A plate for placement of cooked and frozen shrimps, comprising: a base plate portion having top and bottom sides, a plurality of spaced apart elongate projections extending downward from said bottom side, elongate drain grooves which extend respectively in said projections and which open at said top side and close at said bottom side, and a receiving space above said top side and communicated with said drain grooves; and a riser portion extending laterally and upwardly from said base plate portion and looping around said receiving space.
 2. The plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said riser portion includes an upstanding inner wall part having a bottom end connected to said base plate portion and a top end, an upstanding outer wall part extending around said inner wall part in a spaced apart relationship, and a top wall extending at said top end of said inner wall part and interconnecting said inner and outer wall parts.
 3. The plate as claimed in claim 2, wherein said outer wall part has a bottom end extending to a level lower than said projections.
 4. The plate as claimed in claim 3, wherein said base plate portion is substantially rectangular.
 5. The plate as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a cover mountable on said riser portion to close said receiving space. 